Apparatus for the compaction and disposal of refuse



M. CLAR Jan. 25, 1966 APPARATUS FOR THE COMPACTION AND DISPOSAL OF REFUSE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1964 INVENTOR MILTON CLAR BY SIZQ i/O and Ska 0170 ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1966 M. CLAR 3,231,107

APPARATUS FOR THE COMPACTION AND DISPOSAL OF REFUSE Filed March 9, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I/III II!!! III/I INVENTOR MILTON CL A R BY S/m m'm and 550 0170 ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1966 M. CLAR 3,231,107

APPARATUS FOR THE COMPACTION AND DISPOSAL OF REFUSE Filed March 9, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR MILTON CLAR BY Ska Jim and Ska n70 ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1966 I M. CLAR 3,231,107

APPARATUS FOR THE COMPACTION AND DISPOSAL OF REFUSE Filed March 9, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 q m 2 ID j m 3 54 5 5 3/ L 9 I2 N s l 5 N 3 g 9 g 3 O f O O m z E g g, F k

w J m 9 o N 2 2 w (3 a J g INVENTOR MILTON CLA R BY S/iapiro and Sba zm ATTORNEYS Jan. 25, 1966 M. CLAR 3,231,107

APPARATUS FOR THE COMPACTION AND DISPOSAL OF REFUSE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 9, 1964 INVENTOR M ILTON C L A R BY kS/mpiro cz/zd Ska Jim ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,231,107 APPARATUS FOR THE CGMPACTIGN AND Milton Clar, Silver Spring, Md., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Auto Pak Company, Washington, D.C., a corporation of the District of Columbia Filed Mar. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 350,325

4 Claims. (Cl. 214-38) This application is a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 280,658, filed May 15, 1963.

This invention relates to the compaction and disposal of refuse or other solid material, and more particularly, to the disposal of trash in multi-level apartment buildings.

Incinerators are commonly employed in large apartment houses for the disposal of trash. Because of fire regulations in many locals it is not possible to feed trash directly into the incinerator chamber. Usually a separate chute is provided for the gravity-feed of trash from upper stories to the basement. From time to time the trash is manualy carried from the bottom of the chute to the incinerator by the janitor, but the accumulation of loose trash prior to incineration is a fire and health hazard and is esthetically undesirable.

The incinerator must be provided with a suitable source of fuel as well as a suitable due, and the building must be designed to accommodate the incinerator in accordance with fire regulations. Even when the incinerator is properly installed and operated, the production of smoke and fiy-ash creates problems. Furthermore, solid ash residue must be removed from the incinerator manually for disposal by other means.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide apparatus and method which eliminate the need for incinerators in apartment buildings and the like.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the disposal of refuse in such buildings by the provision of a system which is readily integrated into existing refuse collection service.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus and method by which large amounts of refuse may be accumulated for periodic collection without the problems inherent in the accumulation of loose trash.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus in accordance with the foregoing purposes which is automatic and is completely enclosed.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus and method which utilize compaction refuse containers which can be rolled to a self-loading vehicle by the driver of the vehicle and there mechanically lifted and dumped,

Another object of the invention is to provide improved material compaction apparatus which is simple and economical, which operates automatically only upon demand, which has unusually high packing pressure for its size, which occupies minimal floor space, which is inaccessible to children and rodents, and which readily fills a separable standard-size container without spillage.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the foregoing type employing simple drive and control systems.

An additional object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the foregoing type which minimizes probzems of wear, jamming, or other faulty operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved container apparatus for receiving and retaining compacted refuse and the like.

Briefly stated, and without intent to limit its scope, the invention utilizes a stationary packer in association with a container at the bottom of a chute in a multi-level "ice building. Refuse material is fed by gravity along the chute to the packer, which commences operation automatically in the presence of such material, forces the material into the container, and then ceases operation. Periodically the container is disconnected from the packer and is rolled from the building to a self-loading vehicle outside, where the container is lifted and emptied into the vehicle. The container is then rolled back to the packer and reconnected.

. The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished will become more readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and exemplary embodiments, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the association of a packer and a container in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view illustrating the packer of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a partly sectional plan view of the apparatus of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view, partly broken away, illustrating the connection of a compaction blade to a link in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating associated parts at the top of a piston rod in accord ance with the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic diagram of an electric circuit in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a schematic diagram of a hydraulic circuit in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary side elevation view illustrating a container closure in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating a basic method in accordance with the invention; and

FIGURE 12 is'a fragmentary sectional view illustrating modified packer apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 11 of the drawings, a basic concept of the invention concerns a small stationary packer 10 associated with a small rollable container 12 in the basement or on the ground level of an apartment building 14, which has a refuse chute 16 extending downwardly from the upper level or levels of the building. Trash placed in the chute through suitable access doors 18 located appropriately at the upper stories is gravity fed to the bottom of the chute, where it is received in a hopper 20 of the packer. The packer senses the presence of the trash in the hopper and automatically commences operation, forcing the trash into the container 12 and then ceases operation until additional trash is received.

The packer and the container remain at the apartment site permanently. Because compaction greatly reduces the volume of loose trash, the container 12 accommodates a much larger volume of trash than would be possible by merely dumping refuse into the container, but periodically the container must be emptied. This is accomplished by a self-loading vehicle, which may be operated by a refuse-collection service.

The vehicle 22 is driven as close as feasible to the ground level door 24 of the building. The driver then disconnects the container 12 fro-m the packer and rolls the container through the door to the vehicle. There 3 the container is attached to conventional self-loading apparatus associated with the vehicle and is lifted and emptied into the vehicle. While a side-loading vehicle is illustrated, rear-loading or front-loading vehicles may also be employed. After the container is emptied, it is rolled back into the building and reconnected to the packer. The specific apparatus for implementing this important concept of the invention Will now be described.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the packer comprises a generally rectangular housing which may be formed of sheet metal and a strengthening framework of angle, channel, and I-beam stock. A sloping wall 26 segregates the rear compartment 30 of the housing, which is a readily accessible machinery chamber, from the forward compartment of the housing, which includes the hopper 2t and a compaction (material-receiver) chamber 28 beneath the hopper. In an installation of the type illustrated in FIGURE 11 the side and front wallsof the housing are extended upwardly above the hopper to the ceiling, so as to provide a closed chamber surrounding the bottom of the chute 16. The extended sheeting may be provided with a side access door, so that refuse may be inserted into the hopper at the ground level. As will be seen hereinafter, the height of the housing required for surrounding the bottom of the chute is also used advantageously to accommodate the drive apparatus of the packer and to minimize the floor .space requirements.

Compaction chamber 28 is rectangular in cross-section and is open at the top to provide an inlet opening 32 for communication with the hopper 20. The back of the compaction chamber communicates with chamber 30. .The front of the compaction chamber is open to provide an outlet opening 34 adapted to be aligned with an inlet opening 36 in the adjacent side wall of the container 12. Surrounding outlet opening 34 is a rectangular frame or shield 38 adapted to be inserted into the inlet opening 36 of the container (about two inches) to prevent spillage. The packer may be supported on legs 40 of the proper height to ensure insertion of the shield into the container.

Arranged to reciprocate forwardly and rearwardly in the compaction chamber is a rectangular box-like compaction blade 42 (see FIGURE 6). The front wall 44 constitutes the ram surface of the blade, which also has a top wall 46, a bottom wall 48, and side walls 50 and 52. The blade is open at the back to receive a link 54 and is provided with a rearwardly open longitudinal slot 56 in the top wall 46 to accommodate the link 54 in the rearward position of the blade (the phantom line position in FIGURE 2).

Link 54 has oppositely directed lateral offsets at its ends, the offset at the blade end being pivotally connected to the blade by means of a pair of vertical plates 58 which are fixed within the blade and embrace the end of link as shown in FIGURE 6. In the forward position of the blade the front wall 44 is substantially aligned with the outlet opening 34, while in the rearward position of the blade wall 44 is slightly behind the lower end of wall 26. When the blade is forward, the top wall 46 substantially closes the inlet opening 32. To cover the slot 56 a bafiie plate 60 may be pivotally suspended from the lower end of wall 26 slightly above the blade. The bafiie, which extends across the compaction chamber, is moved upwardly by the blade when the blade moves forward and is moved downwardly by gravity when the blade moves to its rearward position. By virtue of this arrangement, material may not enter behind the front wall 44 of the blade.

FIGURE 12 illustrates an alternative arrangement for preventing the entrance of refuse behind the blade. This embodiment employs a pair of baffles 60A and 60B in place of baffie 60. Bafiie 60A extends across the compaction chamber and is pivoted on wall 26A at a higher level than baffle 60, so that only the lower extremity of baffle 60A overlaps the front wall of blade 42 when the blade is in its rearward position. This ensures that the baffie does not lift refuse from the compaction chamber as the blade moves forwardly. Baffle 66B is a plate extending across the compaction chamber and is pivotally mounted at the center of link 54 with its lower end resting upon the top of the blade 42. Thus, when the blade moves forwardly, baffle 6638 is extended under bafiie 60A as the latter turns upwardly. Bafiie 60B closes the space between baiile 60A and the blade and covers the slot in the top wall of the blade.

Link 54 extends rearwardly and upwardly to a pivotal connection at the top of the piston rod 62 of a vertically mounted hydraulic ram 64 at the rear of the housing. The ram comprises a cylinder 66, the lower end of which is fixed to a bracket 68 at the bottom of the packer. The top of the piston rod may be formed with a yoke 70 (FIGURE 7) which embraces the upper end of link 54 and receives a pivot pin 72, which may also serve as the axle for a pair of rollers 74. The rollers move in rectangular tubes 76 and 78, which are longitudinally slotted as at 86 to receive the axle pin 72. As shown in FIGURE 3, tubes 76 and 78 may be supported verticallyby an I-beam 82 extending upwardly at the back of the packer housing. Channel members 84, 86 and 88 form part of the framework of the housing. Rollers 74 serve to guide the vertical movement of the upper end of link 5'4 and relieve the piston rod 62 of lateral stresses. It will be apparent from FIGURE 2 that vertical reciprocation of the piston rod 62 causes horizontal reciprocation of the compaction blade 42.

To stabilize the horizontal movement of the blade and to reduce the wear caused by rubbing of the blade walls against the compaction chamber walls an additional link comprising link parts 90 and 92 is provided. Link parts 90 and 92 are parallel and are spaced apart sufficiently to embrace the hydraulic cylinder 66. The upper end of the link parts is pivotally connected to the center of link 54 by means of a pivot pin surrounded by spacer sleeves 94 as shown in FIGURE 3. The lower end of each link part is supported upon a flange of the I-bearn 82 by means of bearing plates 96 as shown in FIGURE 4. By virtue of the link parts 90 and 92 the blade 42 tends to float, the reciprocation being guided by the linkage, thereby reducing friction at the compaction chamber walls and eliminating the need for additional blade guides. The use of a fairly narrow blade and a centered linkage avoids problems of blade canting.

As shown, the pivotal connections at 72 and R6 lie along a vertical line, while the pivotal connections at 58 and 96 lie along a horizontal line. The pivotal connections at the blade, the piston rod, and the intermediate region of link 54 lie along a diagonal line forming the hypotenuse of the right triangle including the aforementioned lines. The hypotenuse is of fixed length, but the remaining sides of the triangle are variable in length in accordance with the position of the compaction blade. With this arrangement, the packing force increases as the blade moves toward the outlet opening 34, being proportional to the co-tangent of the angle between the hypotenuse and the base of the aforementioned triangle. Exceptionally large packing forces are obtainable at the forward end of the stroke, where maximum packing force is desired, even with a single, relatively small diameter hydraulic cylinder. The compaction mechanism is readily available for maintenance.

A signficant advantage of the packer construction of the invention is that the required packing volume and packing force can be obtained in a unit which requires very little floor space. This is accomplished. by the use of the vertically-mounted hydraulic cylinder and its bladedriving linkage. The slotted blade top permits greater rearward movement of the blade in the available space, and the length of the slot is minimized by the S-configuration of link 54. By the mounting of the cylinder at the bottom of the housing the height of the housing is kept within reasonable bounds. Moreover, because the effec- .tive piston area is greater during rearward movement of the compaction blade, greater force is available for unjamming any obstructions which may occur between the blade and the walls of the compaction chamber during forward movement of the blade. A typical packer unit occupies a floor space which is only seventy-three inches long by twenty-four inches wide (the width being only thirty-three inches at the expanded upper portion). A nominal height of ninety inches may be increased by suitable sheeting to reach ceiling height. Moreover, the unit may be readily placed in the corner of a room.

The container 12 comprises a hollow rectangular body 98 supported upon four rollers 1111), at least two of which swivel. At the side of the container opposite the inlet opening 36' an inclined baflle 102 is provided. The baflle may curve upwardly from the bottom wall of the container to the adjacent side wall as shown in FIGURE 1 and serves to circulate the refuse material upwardly as it is packed into the container, to ensure filling of the entire container rather than just the bottom part thereof.

The container has an opening at the top which is normally closed by a lid 104 pivoted upon a container side wall by means of hinges 1196. The lid is normally maintained closed by a plurality of latches 103, three of which are shown at the side wall opposite the hinges and one of which is shown at the side wall opposite the inlet opening. The latches may comprise simple handle-operated horizontally pivoting bolts which turn under fixed keepers supported by the side walls of the container.

The container and the packer are provided with cooperating coupling members for releasably connecting the container to the packer. Such coupling members may comprise upwardly open hooks 110 extending laterally from opposite sides of the container and adapted to receive chains 112 connected to central portions of levers 114, pivotally supported upon the side walls of the packer. T he forward portion of each lever 114 is loosely pivoted upon a bracket arm 116, while the rear portion of the lever serves as a handle which may be latched behind an abutment 118. The levers serve to tighten the chains 112 after the container has been positioned against the front of the packer and an appropriate link of the chains 112 placed upon the hooks 119.

In addition to having means for connection to the packer, the container has coupling members for connection to the lifting elements of a self-loading vehicle, such as the vehicle 22 indicated in FIGURE ll. For example, if the vehicle is a side-loader of the type disclosed in the copending application Serial No. 61,301 filed by Erlinder et al. on October 7, 1960, now Patent No. 3,136,436 the coupling members for engaging the lifting elements may comprise a pair of parallel horizontal bars 120 and 122 which are fixed at a suitable height to the side wall of the container opposite the hinges 1116. The ends of the bars extend beyond the container and serve as upper and lower pairs of ears to be engaged by the hook-like lifting elements of the vehicle. The container may thus be lifted above the body of the vehicle and (with the lid unlatched) may then be inverted and emptied into the vehicle body. A typical two-cubic yard container employed in the invention is about fifty-six inches long (not including the bar extensions), has a width tapering from about thirty-nine inches at the top to about thirty-three inches at the bottom, and has a lid height of about fiftyone inches above the ground. Such a container formed of sheet steel may readily be moved by one man, even when the container is full, and may pass through a standard size basement door.

To prevent refuse from spilling through the inlet opening 36 during movement of the container from the packer to the vehicle, a temporary closure 124 (FIGURE may be placed over the opening 36. In a simple form this closure may comprise a pair of parallel rods 126 and 128 between which a plurality of tension springs, such as common screen door springs, may be stretched. A lateral hook 132 extends below rod 126 for insertion in a receptacle 134 at the bottom of the container, and a forwardly directed hook 136 extends from rod 128 for insertion in a hole 138 in the container side wall. Springs are stretched during the insertion of the hooks and provide suflicient blockage of the compacted refuse. The closure is removed prior to reconnecting the container to the packer.

The apparatus for operating and controlling the packer will now be described.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the hydraulic cylinder 66 is supplied with hydraulic fluid by a pump 140 driven by an electric motor 142. These elements and a control valve 144 may be supported upon a shelf 146 at one side of the packer housing. Suitable hydraulic lines 148 extend from the control valve to opposite ends of the hydraulic cylinder (see FIGURE 2).

Other hydraulic lines are indicated in FIGURE 9, which illustrates the hydraulic diagram.

Valve 144 is a two-position flow-reversing valve moved to one position by a solenoid 150 and moved to the other position by a return spring 152. When motor 142 is energized, pump 140 pumps fluid from a reservoir 154 through the valve 144. If the solenoid is de-energized, the fluid flows to the upper end of cylinder 66 and is returned from the lower end of the cylinder through the valve to the reservoir. If the solenoid 150 is energized, as by a circuit including a source of electric power and a pressure switch 156 responsive to the hydraulic pressure at the upper end of cylinder 66, the valve 144 will reverse its position, thereby reversing the flow of hydraulic fluid with respect to the cylinder and reversing the movement of the piston rod 62. When the solenoid 1511 is de-energized, the spring 152 will return valve 144 to its former position. Spring-biased pressure relief valve 158 is a safety measure to prevent excessive pressure build-up.

The drive apparatus of the packer is photo-electrically controlled and operates automatically in response to the presence of refuse material in the hopper 20. A light source 161? is provided at one side of the hopper adjacent the bottom, an aperture being provided in the hopper wall for passage of a light beam from the source, which may be mounted outside of the hopper. The light beam extends medially across the bottom ot the hopper and passes through an aperture at the opposite side to a photo-electric relay 162.. The light source and relay may be part of an assembly sold by the General Electric Company and designated as GPlOSCl Comb. B. As indicated in FIGURE 8, the photo-electric relay 162 comprises a photocell 164, a relay coil 166, and a switch 168, the relay being energized from the usual 110 volt A.C. supply lines and providing a 6-volt output for energizing the light source and for supplying the relay coil when required.

The control system also comprises a pair of limit switches LS1 and LS2. Switch LS1 is mounted upon the same side wall of the packer housing as the photoelectric relay and has a feeler which extends into chamber 39 behind the compaction blade 42. As shown in FIGURE 6, the side wall 52 of the blade has a rearward plate extension 1711 for initially engaging the feeler in a cycle of operation to be described. Switch LS2 is located at the opposite side of the housing, farther back, and has a feeler extending into the housing to be engaged by the rear edge of the side Wall '50 of the blade when the blade is in its rearward position. A relay box 172 may be mounted upon a side wall of the housing as shown in FIGURE 1 and may contain the switch LS1 as well as a relay and other electrical components to be described.

The operation of the packer will now be described.

The rest position of the packer blade 42 is slightly back of the forward position illustrated in FIGURE 2 (about an inch behind the illustrated position). As long as there is no refuse in the hopper 211, the apparatus remains at rest. When material is dropped into the hopper so as to interrupt the light beam from the source 160, relay coil 166 (FIGURE 8) is energized, closing switch 168 and energizing the pump motor 142. Solenoid 150 is still doenergized, so that the valve 144 is in the solid line position illustrated in FIGURE 9. Energization of motor 142 causes the pump 140 to supply hydraulic fluid to the upper end of cylinder 66, which moves the piston rod 62 downwardly and moves the compaction blade 42 forwardly. When the blade has moved (about an inch) to its forward position illustrated in FIGURE 2, the piston rod 62 reaches the lower limit of its travel. The resultant increase in hydraulic pressure at the top of the cylinder actuates the pressure switch 156, closing the switch and energizing the coil 174 of a relay 176 shown in FIGURE 8. This closes the ganged switches 17-8 and 180 of the relay, energizing the solenoid 150 and energizing a holding coil 182 of the relay through the normally closed limit switch LS2.

Energization of the solenoid reverses the position of the valve 144, causing the piston rod to move upwardly and the compaction blade 42 to move rearwardly. Although the hydraulic pressure at the top of .the cylinder drops and the pressure switch 156 opens, relay 176 remains energized by the coil 182, and the solenoid 150 remains energized.

After the blade has moved a short distance (slightly more than an inch), plate 170 at the side of the blade engages vthe feeler of switch LS1, closing the normally open switch. As the blade moves rearwardly, the side wall 52 maintains the switch closed, providing an energization circuit for the motor 142 independent of the photoelectrically actuated switch 168.

As the blade moves rearwardly, the refuse in the hopper drops into the compaction chamber 28 in front of the blade, removing the obstruction of the light beam, so that relay coil 166 is de-energized and switch 168 is opened. The blade moves rearwardly to the phantom line position shown in FIGURE 2, baffie 60 dropping in front of the blade as indicated. When the blade is in its rearward position, the feeler of switch LS2 is engaged, opening the normally closed switch and dc-energizing the holding coil 1S2. Switches 178 and 180 of relay 176 open, de-energizing the solenoid 150. The return spring 152 of valve 144 then moves the valve to the full line position illustrated in FIGURE 9, reversing the flow of hydraulic fluid and causing the piston rod 62 to move downwardly again. The blade thus moves forwardly again, reclosing switch LS2, which is now ineffective because switch 180 is open. As the blade moves forwardly the refuse material is pushed into the container, being compacted as the container fills. The blade moves forwardly until the side plate 170 disengages the feeler of switch LS1; the switch then opens and de-energizes the pump motor 142. Movement of the blade stops. A new cycle of operation is instituted each time the light beam is interrupted.

If the blade encounters an immovable obstruction in its forward movement, the pressure switch will be closed prematurely, and the blade movement will be reversed to facilitate clearance of the obstruction. The packer will cycle as long as the obstruction persists, but no damage will be done. Prolonged operation may be indicated by a suitable alarm, if desired, which would also indicate overfilling of the container. Several containers may be available at the packer site if unusually large amounts of refuse are to be handled. Also, the electric control system may be de-energized during disconnection of a container from the packer.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes can be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, the foregoing embodiments are to be considered illustrative, rather than restrictive of the invention, and those modifications which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be included therein.

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus for the disposal of refuse from a multilevel apartment building and the like, comprising a chute extending from the upper levels of said building to a lower level of said building interiorly thereof, a stationary refuse packer located at said lower level and having an inlet opening beneath said chute and an outlet opening, a portable container supported for translational movement and having an inlet opening at one side thereof, said packer and said container having cooperating elements for detachably connecting said container to said packer with the inlet opening of said container in alignment with the outlet opening of said packer, said packer having a compaction mechanism for moving refuse from said chute through the aligned openings into said container and compacting the refuse therein, said container having an outlet opening at the top provided with a cover and releasable means for holding the cover normally closed, said container having elements adapted to mate with corresponding elements of the container lifting and dumping mechanism of a self-loading vehicle, whereby said container may be filled with compacted refuse from said chute, moved out of said building to said vehicle, emptied into said vehicle, and returned to said packer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said inlet opening of said said packer having normally closed closure means for receiving refuse thereon from said chute, and operating means for detecting refuse on said closure means, for opening said closure means to admit the detected refuse, and for controlling said compaction mechanism to move the detected refuse into said container and reclose said closure means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, said packer having a compaction chamber with the packer inlet opening at the top and the packer outlet opening at one side thereof, said compaction mechanism comprising a blade supported for reciprocation in said chamber toward and away from the packer outlet opening and beneath the packer inlet opening, said blade having a rest position adjacent to the packer outlet opening, said closure means comprising the top of said blade, said operating means com prising means for moving said blade away from the outlet opening of said packer and then for moving said blade toward the outlet opening of said packer until said blade is at its rest position and then for stopping the movement of said blade.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, said container being supported upon wheels, having a capacity of the order of 2 cubic yards, and having its cover supported by hinges.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,415,702 5/1922 Purcell 19334 1,857,653 5/1932 Meyercord et al. 220-15 2,578,277 12/1951 Andrews 53-59 2,587,854 3/1952 Johnson 214-16 2,612,278 9/1952 McGuire 21416 2,737,327 3/1956 Wilson et al. 53-59 3,001,655 9/1961 Tippett 214302 3,013,675 12/1961 Schonrock 21441 3,059,789 10/1962 Bowles 214-41 3,109,362 11/1963 Seltzer 49 3,129,657 4/1964 Farley et al.

3,136,436 5/1964 Erlinder et a1 214302 3,136,575 6/1964 Kolling 29473 3,140,788 7/1964 Clar 214-302 OTHER REFERENCES Refuse Removal Journal, 11/63, pages 2 and 3. GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR THE DISPOSAL OF REFUSE FROM A MULTILEVEL APARTMENT BUILDING AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING A CHUTE EXTENDING FROM THE UPPER LEVELS OF SAID BUILDING TO A LOWER LEVEL OF SAID BUILDING INTERIORLY THEREOF, A STATIONARY REFUSE PACKER LOCATED AT SAID LOWER LEVEL AND HAVING AN INLET OPENING BENEATH SAID CHUTE AND AN OUTLET OPENING, A PORTABLE CONTAINER SUPPORTED FOR TRANSLATIONAL MOVEMENT AND HAVING AN INLET OPENING AT ONE SIDE THEREOF, SAID PACKER AND SAID CONTAINER HAVING COOPERATING ELEMENTS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING SAID CONTAINER TO SAID PACKER WITH THE INLET OPENING OF SAID CONTAINER IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE OUTLET OPENING OF SAID PACKER, SAID PACKER HAVING A COMPACTION MECHANISM FOR MOVING REFUSE FROM SAID CHUTE THROUGH THE ALIGNED OPENINGS INTO SAID CONTAINER AND COMPACTING THE REFUSE THEREIN, SAID CONTAINER HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING AT THE TOP PROVIDED WITH A COVER AND RELEASABLE MEANS FOR HOLDING THE COVER NORMALLY CLOSED, SAID CONTAINER HAVING ELEMENTS ADAPTED TO MATE WITH CORRESPONDING ELEMENTS OF THE CONTAINER LIFTING AND DUMPING MECHANISM OF A SELF-LOADING VEHICLE, WHEREBY SAID CONTAINER MAY BE FILLED WITH COMPACTED REFUSE FROM SAID CHUTE, MOVED OUT OF SAID BUILDING TO SAID VEHICLE, EMPTIED INTO SAID VEHICLE, AND RETURNED TO SAID PACKER. 